India Successfully Test Fires First Indigenous Air-Launched Anti-Ship Missile

Anti-ship missile helicopter launch New Delhi: In a boost to Indian Navy's anti-ship warfare capabilities, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Navy on Wednesday successfully launched naval anti-ship missile-short range (NASM-SR) from a helicopter platform in Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast. During the trial, two missiles were launched in quick succession from the same helicopter, making it the first salvo launch of an advanced air-launched anti-ship missile system, the defence ministry said. NASM-SR is India's first indigenous air-launched anti-ship missile. It features advanced, low-level sea-skimming, has a range of 55 km and supports fire-and-forget operation in all weather conditions and at all hours. All test objectives were fully met as per data captured using various range-tracking instruments like radar, electro-optical system and telemetry deployed by Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, the ministry said. Along with proving salvo launch capability, the missiles demonstrated waterline hit capability (ability to precisely strike a target vessel at or just below the waterline). Complimenting DRDO, Navy, IAF and the industry for the successful launch, defence minister Rajnath Singh said that "development of this missile will further enhance the capabilities of the defence forces". The test launch was witnessed by senior scientists from DRDO, representatives from Navy and IAF and development-cum-production partners.